Christian Sands Quartet: Christmas Stories
Dizzy's Club102 Columbus Circle, New York 10107
Christian Sands brings his quartet to Dizzy’s Club for Christmas Stories, a holiday-focused program built around his seasonal project of the same name. The bill identifies Sands as the quartet leader, but does not confirm the musicians joining him for this performance. The record’s core group features Sands on piano with guitarist Marvin Sewell, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Ryan Sands, while its recorded guests include Jimmy Greene and Stefon Harris.
A New Haven, Connecticut native, Sands is a pianist and composer whose playing draws on a broad jazz vocabulary, including “stride, swing, bebop, progressive, fusion, Brazilian or Afro-Cuban.” He came to wider prominence with Christian McBride’s Trio and Inside Straight, and has shared stages with Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Gregory Porter, Terri Lyne Carrington and Stefon Harris. DownBeat called him “one of the most profoundly rhythmic young pianists in jazz today,” while the New York Times praised his “restrained touch and a rolling command across the entire keyboard.” Writing about Christmas Stories, the Columbia Daily Tribune found “pure warmth” and “refined pleasure” in the music.
Dizzy's Club offers a refined jazz experience with a seating capacity of about 140, where guests enjoy live performances from world-class musicians in a room that frames sweeping views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. The venue features a full bar and a seasonal menu with sophisticated soul food, enhancing the evening beyond just the music. Shows are ticketed and typically run two sets per night, with late-night sessions available without reservation. The seating is generally first-come, first-served, encouraging early arrival for the best vantage points. The club’s location within Jazz at Lincoln Center places it in a lively cultural hub, making it ideal for a night that blends attentive listening with the pleasure of fine dining and cityscape views.